Chapter 42: The Law is the Most Important Thing

It was indeed Ethan who had informed Bob Alder and summoned him. After learning about the battle in the rain, he had asked Bob to come to the estate and prepare a contingency plan—to see whether there were any legal precautions they could take in case the prohibition agents made any further moves.

That was why Bob now stood at Ethan’s side.

“Get lost.” Lewis regarded him with utter disdain.

“Mr. Lewis, I just heard you say that the Kingdom Parliament has passed a bill granting your prohibition agents the authority to investigate anything and everything.”

Bob merely looked at him calmly.

“Yes, that bill has absolutely been passed. Even if it hasn’t reached Winster yet, it took effect the moment it was approved. So don’t think you can play games with me over that. I said you were a second-rate lawyer, and that means you’re incapable of doing first-rate work.”

Lewis grew increasingly agitated.

“Excellent. I only wanted to confirm that it had passed. That way, we can discuss this matter from a legal standpoint.” Bob remained perfectly composed. It was almost as though, after what had happened with Murphy last time, he had suddenly become an entirely different man.

“Mr. Lewis, you are currently standing outside the private property of my employer, Mr. Ethan Poletta. The moment you take another step forward, he will have the legal right to retaliate against you.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Stop wasting my time. I told you, I’m a prohibition agent. Your legal statutes are useless against me!”

Lewis looked as though he might open his mouth and tear Bob apart.

“This is not nonsense. It is the law. Contract Law grants Mr. Ethan inviolable rights. Once he signed the contract and acquired ownership of the land beneath his feet, he became its master. No one may trespass upon it. Contract Law is the foundation of the Kingdom, superior to every other law. Are you saying that a parliamentary bill takes precedence over Contract Law? Especially when you have no substantive evidence whatsoever proving that my employer has even the slightest connection to the illicit liquor trade you mentioned. Under those circumstances, he has every right to shoot you dead the moment you set foot on his private property.”

Bob delivered the entire speech in one breath, without a single stumble.

It was nothing short of eloquent.

At last, he drew a deep breath and looked toward Ethan.

“So, Young Master, the moment he dares take another step forward, shoot him.”

For some reason, Bob had begun calling Ethan Young Master as well.

“Thank you, Bob, my friend.”

Ethan smiled, then turned toward Anya.

“That’s why I keep saying the law is the most important thing. We absolutely must invest in the law. Look at that—the law has once again protected a legitimate businessman like me.”

Lewis clenched his alchemical prosthetic hand so tightly that it gave off an almost grinding crack. He looked as though he might crush it apart.

But he simply did not dare throw that punch.

He hesitated.

The prohibition agents who had followed him here hesitated even more.

They had no idea whether that terrifying firearm capable of turning a man into a sieve in an instant was still hidden somewhere within the estate.

Their comrades had died horribly.

They had never even seen such a weapon before.

“Well, Agent Lewis? Are you going to come up and give it a try? I seem to recall that someone was rather eager to test himself against me.”

Ethan rubbed the insignia on his left hand and smiled at Lewis.

Lewis found himself caught between advancing and retreating.

He exhaled heavily, like a maddened bull.

Suddenly, a clear ringing sounded from within the estate.

The telephone.

Since no one went to answer it, it continued ringing into the empty air.

For a long time.

Ethan said, “Gentlemen, I’m going to answer the phone. I assume no one objects?”

Without waiting for anyone to respond, he turned and walked into the house.

A few minutes later, he came back out.

“It wasn’t for me. A man named Marvin said he was your superior, Lewis. Do you want to take the call? Don’t worry, you’re only answering the phone. I won’t shoot you. Come inside.”

Hearing that it was Marvin, Lewis hesitated, but eventually stepped into the estate.

No one fired.

The men following him all breathed sighs of relief.

After the standoff had dragged on this long, they were frightened. They had no desire to search the place any further. All they wanted was to return as quickly as possible and drink something to warm themselves.

Following Ethan into the sitting room, Lewis picked up the telephone. He then heard Marvin say only one thing:

“Withdraw the team.”

“Why—”

He wanted to ask why.

But before he could get more than a single word out, the call had already ended.

The dead tone on the line left him just as bewildered.

“Looks like you’re just as unwelcome in your new team, Lewis. How pitiful. Still, even so, I’m not going to invite you to stay for lunch.”

Ethan joked from nearby.

Lewis hung up the phone and walked out of the house step by step. Just before he reached the entrance, he suddenly turned around and fixed Ethan with a stare.

“Ethan, this isn’t over between us. As long as I’m alive, I’ll keep watching you. Make one mistake, and you’re finished!”

He pointed two fingers at his own eyes, then thrust them toward Ethan, his gesture full of menace.

“Bob, someone is threatening me.”

Ethan merely smiled.

Before Bob could come over, Lewis turned and strode toward the gate, bellowing, “Fall back!”

Then they vanished into the wind and rain.

The moment they were out of sight, Ethan threw his arms around Bob.

“Bob, that was brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Without you, I honestly wouldn’t have known what to do today. ‘Contract Law grants Mr. Ethan inviolable rights’—how did you think of that? You’re a genius! Oh, Contract Law, how I love Contract Law. Bob, you were incredible.”

Overwhelmed by Ethan’s praise, Bob was at a loss for what to do and could only grin foolishly.

Ethan looked him over. Bob truly had changed. Compared with the last time they had met, he was wearing a dark formal suit, and he had chosen a far more tasteful tie. Even though his hair was soaked, it was obvious that he had styled it carefully. Most importantly, he carried himself with remarkable vitality.

In truth, half of what Ethan had just said was sincere, while the other half had been mere courtesy.

His real trump card had been that telephone call.

Before he went out to meet Lewis, Ethan had called John Holt and briefly explained what had happened that day, including the trouble with Lewis.

John Holt was a clever man. He had said he would take care of it.

So unless absolutely necessary, Ethan had still not wanted to shoot.

Once a gun was fired, things would become troublesome.

What he had not expected was that before the call came, Bob would arrive and save the day instead.

Bob’s performance this time had already earned back everything Ethan had invested in him. It had been an extremely worthwhile investment—one that had even surpassed expectations.

“Actually, Young Master already had a contingency plan.”

Bob was no fool. He understood the situation perfectly.

“Don’t say that. You did more than enough.” Ethan draped an arm around his shoulders. “Come on. Let’s go inside and have something to drink. Stay for dinner too. There’s a great deal we need to discuss.”

By early evening, the rain in Winster finally showed signs of letting up.

The storm was about to end.